Forest, Flowers, River and Rapids Huay Raeng Community Based Tourism

Enjoy a serene boat trip through pristine forest, under fragrant blossoms, and down gentle rapids, then share life and laughter with a local homestay family.

What to experience ?

Enjoying a cool bath in the river at Huay Raeng

Local guides lead you on a journey through pristine forest and gentle rapids, to deep pools where you can swim in the cool shade of giant nipa palm and tropical fruit trees.

You can admire many varieties of birds and wild flowers. In February and March, the rare khut flowers bloom. Clouds of butterflies flutter under virgin white, fragrant blossoms.

In a local, natural fish spa, tiny toothless fish will nibble your toes! The environment is so pristine that guests often see shrimps and fish jump out of the water and into the boat!

There are nine homestays available, surrounded by mangosteen, rambutan and durian orchards. Ask your hosts how to sing a few lines of their traditional song “Pleng Rum Pa.”

Not to be missed are the treasures of art, handicrafts, and delicacies made by the locals from the Nipa Palm harvested here. You can taste herbal health drinks and a local variety of rice “kao kao lon young!” There is a small workshop where the villagers produce cosmetic products (e.g. soap, shampoo, lotion) from mangosteen peel.

At night, upon request, your host can take you on the evening cruise to enjoy the fireflies light performance. Be aware, the fireflies are courting so no flash photos please!

English in Huay Raeng is limited, so it is recommended to visit with Thai speaking guide

How does it help ?

The people of Huai Raeng decided together how to design appropriate tourism for their community and how to divide the benefits fairly. All community members can be shareholders in homestay, the boat group, etc. The group holds regular forums to share opinions, solve problems, review goals, and ensure that the group’s rules are respected.

Youth, adults and senior citizens work together to manage CBT, cooperating actively with local families, temple and school. This helps local traditions to be passed between generations, such as the “Tom-Tom Drum”, growing local rice “Kao Kao Lon Yoong”, and traditional song “Pleng Rum Pa.” Local staff have been trained to welcome guests.

The group prefer not to rely on tourism. Local people maintain traditional occupations, with tourism regarded as a useful supplementary income. Some income goes to the service providers, and some is reserved to fund natural resources conservation initiatives.

The group proactively protects the environment by limiting the number of visitors, protecting big trees (a community tradition), planting new trees and growing additional species of plants at home; collecting garbage from the canal; monitoring biodiversity and establishing a ‘green bank’ to be a learning centre at the local school.

Awards

2010 Thailand Tourism Award

2007 “Best Community in Tourism” (TAT)

Photo Gallery

Huay Raeng CBT Group

Life on the farm at Huay Raeng

Tourism Awards at Huay Raeng

Enjoying a cool bath in the river at Huay Raeng CBT

Life on the river with Huay Raeng CBT

Healthy Prawns

Enjoying a cool splash at Huay Raeng CBT

Homestay at Juay Raeng

Guests learn about local life at Huay Raeng CBT

A cloud of Klut Blossoms at Huay Raeng

Contact Details

To organize your stay there you need to contact the CBT Network coordination center in Chiang Mai which help communities to communicate in English, at least 10 days prior to arrival.